So, I have developed my first oil leak. I'm having a bit of trouble finding the source though. The leak seems to be coming from the front RHS of the engine. It is somewhere high, as it is dripping from above. I have been under the car but with all of the stuff in the way I can't seem to locate it. The oil is dripping on the exhaust system and causing some smoke. I have stopped driving the car for now, but I would like to get it back on the road (of course). I'm guessing either cam seals or valve cover gasket. Now that I have written all of this, I'm not sure how much everyone can help me over the Internet, but some common points to consdier would be a great help. Thanks! Gene
Gene, Fchat is an AMAZING resource for technical info. If you don't get enough responses here, post this in the Technical Q&A section. I can pretty much guarantee you someone will have something useful to say. Good luck. J.
Search here & Tech Q&A, I posted what to look for to verify a cam seal/cam cover leak a couple of weeks ago. BTW, if it's up high, there just isn't much else it could be. You might try re-torqueing the cam cover nuts, sometimes works.
Sorry I can't point you in the right direction from your description. But Gene, your FIRST oil leak? Motto for Italian & British cars...."if it isn't leaking, its out of oil"
I recently had an oil leak hitting the front header and it turned out to be the A/C compresor seal had failed and the pressure from the freon made the oil spray onto the hot engine. I was sure it was a cam gasket or seal, but unfortunately I was wrong.
I'll try technical Q&A, but I agree, it is probably the cam seals. Crap. I will try checking the torque on the valve covers, but I'm not optimistic. I understand that I will have some oil leaks, but the kind that causes smoke are bad. Gene
I had one just like that when I got my 77. It was a bad cam cover gasket. Also take it easy on the cam cover nuts because you might snap them. Also I know in my past Jaguar ownership I did not have any oil leaks. The old mechanics use to call them "controlled seapage"
they tend to leak at the corner of the valve cover; the two gaskets that meet at that corner. as did mine and dripped onto the alternator.(which is another tail to tell) hope this helps . . .
I'm out of town for work right now, but when I get back I'm going to continue to work on the timing belt change. Hopefully when I get the Air con out of the way I'll find the leak. Thanks a lot for the tips. Gene
I doubt it was your first leak but rather the first time you've noticed it. Mine has little droplets right on the lower corners of the cam covers but never leaves any oil on the ground. Until I switched to synthetic oil on my last change I did not notice, but after filling it with mobil one it was seeping so badly smoke was coming out of the engine compartment. I switched back to dino oil and it is tolerable (as in I don't notice any oil usage). I bought the car last August and it had the timing belts done in july. For the life of me I can't figure out why the mechaninc did not do the cam cover and cam seals at the same time. Reminds me of an old Lincoln I had. I blew a head gasket and paid $1400 labor to repalce the head gaskets. When I went to pick up the car I just could not believe they did not do a valve job. I was mad at the mechanic and said " I just assumed since you had the heads off you'd send them out for a valve job" his response was "that would have been an extra $75"
